[02/22/11 - 10:25 PM] Development Update: Tuesday, February 22 By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)
LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- The latest development news, culled from recent wire reports:
Looking to keep track of all the various projects in development? Click here to visit our signature "Devwatch" section. There visitors can view our listings by network, genre, studio and even development stage (ordered to pilot, cast-contingent, script, etc.). It's updated every day!
BENT (NBC) - Joey King ("Romona and Beezus") has joined the cast of the Amanda Peet-led comedy pilot, about Alex Meyers (Peet), a recently divorced "type A" single mother who tries hard not to fall for Pete Riggins, the sexy "surfer-dude" contractor she hires to re-do her kitchen. She'll play Alex's daughter, Frankie, in the project, which comes from director Craig Zisk and writer Tad Quill. Universal Media Studios is producing.
BIG MIKE (A&E) - Elizabeth Bogush ("The Forgotten") has been cast in the drama pilot, about Mike O'Bannon (Greg Grunberg), a plus-sized detective in a world where plus-sized is a minus. She'll play his ex-wife, Caroline Hanson ("Mike's opposite in every way, not just in size, but in temperament"), who's since remarried but still cares about Mike. Anthony Ruivivar, Ken Leung and Nicole Ari Parker also star in the Sony Pictures Television-based hour, which Paris Barclay is helming. Ed Decter and John Strauss penned the pilot script.
DAMAGES (DirecTV) - Bailey Chase ("Saving Grace") has landed a multi-episode arc on the show's upcoming fourth season. Details about his role however weren't released however it's believed he's playing a potential love interest for Rose Byrne's character. Chris Messina, Dylan Baker and John Goodman are also set to recur this season, due this summer.
THE GREAT STATE OF GEORGIA (ABC Family) - Loretta Devine ("Grey's Anatomy") has joined the cast of the upcoming comedy, which stars Raven-Symone as Georgia, an aspiring actress with a larger than life personality, and her science geek best friend, Jo (Majandra Delfino), who try to make headway in New York City. She'll play Aunt Honey, Jo's landlady and a dear friend of Georgia's late mother. Devine takes over for Meagen Fay, who played said role in the original pilot. Jeff Greenstein and Jennifer Weiner co-created the half-hour, which recently tapped Kirk J. Rudell as showrunner.
GRIMM (NBC) - Silas Weir Mitchell ("Prison Break") is the latest addition to the drama pilot, about Nick Burckhardt (David Giuntoli), a police detective who discovers fairy tale creatures live among us and is tasked with defending humans from these mythical beasts. Mitchell is on board as Eddy Monroe, a reformed Blutbad ("the big bad wolf") who "stays good via a strict regimen of diet, drugs, and pilates." Marc Buckland is helming the Universal Media Studios-based hour off a script by David Greenwalt and Jim Kouf.
LITTLE IN COMMON (FOX) - Kevin Hart ("Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire") has scored a role on the comedy pilot, about three families united through their kids' Little League sports. He'll play Ty Burleson, patriarch of one of the aforementioned families - a former Division II athlete-turned sports reporter-turned house husband who now satisfies his competitive urges by coaching Little League (and cares a little too much about it). Paula Marshall and Rob Corddry also star in the Warner Bros. Television-based half-hour, from creator Rob Thomas. Adam Bernstein is directing.
LOST & FOUND (ABC) - Diana Maria Riva ("The Good Guys") is the first to be cast in the comedy pilot, about Jolene "Jo" Hauser (yet to be cast), "a woman whose 18-year-old son whom she had given up for adoption reenters her life." She'll play Rosie Mancini, a very curvy Italian waitress at Finn McCool's, the bar where Jo works. Marisa Coughlan is behind the half-hour, which is set up at Warner Bros. Television.
LOVELIVES (NBC) - Ryan Hansen ("Friends With Benefits") is the first to be cast in the comedy pilot, about a couple - Tim and Holly - and their challenges of love and infidelity. He'll play the aforementioned Tim, a charming professor at Fordham University. Hansen's casting is formally in second position to "Benefits," which has yet to debut. Chris Sheridan penned the multi-camera project for 20th Century Fox Television.
OTHER PEOPLE'S KIDS (ABC) - Malcolm Barrett ("Better Off Ted") is the first to be cast in the comedy pilot, about Adam, a 32-year-old guy with no responsibilities who suddenly finds himself with an insta-family when he falls in love with Michelle, an older woman who has two kids (Emily, 8; Bryce, 3), an ex-husband (Dave), an ex-mother-in-law (Laura) and her new lover (Les). He'll play Magnus, Adam's best friend and co-owner of their food truck. Hunter Covington penned the half-hour for ABC Studios.
PAN AM (ABC) - Christina Ricci is in talks to star in the pilot, a period drama about the pilots and flight attendants of the once-dominant airline set in the 1960s. It's not clear which character she'll be playing in the Sony Pictures Television-based project. Jack Orman penned the script, to be directed by Thomas Schlamme. Margot Robbie and Michael Mosley also star.
TOUCH (FOX) - Kiefer Sutherland has officially boarded the drama pilot, which will now film in late May or early June for midseason consideration by the network. He'll play Martin Bohm in the project - an unassuming baggage handler at JFK who discovers that his autistic, mute son can predict events before they happen - as well as executive produce. The delayed production start is due to Sutherland's commitment to Jason Miller's revival of "That Championship Season" on Broadway, which opened last week. Charles McDougall is in talks to direct the 20th Century Fox Television-based hour, which comes from creator Tim Kring.
